A Nairobi High Court has fast-tracked a petition seeking to halt the recruitment of 10,000 police officers, following concerns raised by a group of petitioners. The case, which was filed by lawyers Shadrack Wambui and Sheria Mtaani, calls for an urgent conservatory order to restrain the Inspector General of Police (IG) Douglas Kanja and the National Police Service (NPS) from proceeding with the recruitment set to begin on Friday, October 3, 2025.
The petitioners argue that there are unresolved constitutional issues surrounding the control and management of the National Police Service payroll. Specifically, they question whether the payroll management falls under the operational duties of the Inspector General or the human resources management domain, which has led to a potential clash of roles between various bodies involved.
During the court session on Monday, September 29, 2025, lawyers Danstan Omari and Cliff Ombeta, representing the petitioners, emphasized the urgency of the matter, highlighting that recruitment was scheduled to commence in just a few days. They argued that proceeding with the recruitment before the court has had a chance to rule on these constitutional matters could entrench problematic practices related to payroll management, potentially making any future court orders difficult to enforce.
Lawyer Paul Nyamodi, representing the IG and NPS, concurred with the petitioners’ assertion that the matter required urgent attention and should be heard without delay. Justice Lawrence Mugambi, presiding over the case, ordered that the petition be heard the following day, September 30, 2025, at 10:00 AM in open court.
The petitioners seek a determination of whether the role of payroll management and recruitment falls under the powers of the Inspector General or another body, such as the National Police Service Commission (NPSC). They argue that if recruitment proceeds, the newly appointed officers will be placed on a payroll system that could be deemed unconstitutional, leading to future complications.
This ongoing case highlights the broader debate on the structure of the National Police Service and its alignment with constitutional mandates, particularly concerning the allocation of authority between different bodies overseeing police operations and human resource management.
